Join Unison branches lobbying Parliament on the 3rd of June, 12.30PM-14.30PM

SOAS Unison will be represented there – join us to fight for our sector!

Background

Higher education is in crisis. The combination of tuition fees, Brexit, declining international student numbers – exacerbated by the last government’s hostile environment towards immigration – and inflationary pressure has placed some universities in incredibly challenging circumstances.

Across the sector, we are seeing cuts and redundancies at an alarming rate, and UNISON members are feeling the devastating effects of closures, cutbacks, and withdrawal of services. Many UNISON branches and regions are running excellent campaigns in response to proposed cuts, and many more will be launching campaigns in the near future.

An estimated 70 institutions are reducing staffing numbers to cut costs. And even prior to the current situation, our members have seen their pay and conditions decline continuously for the past fourteen years. Since 2010, the pay our members receive has reduced by 28% in real terms, with an alarming 75% of our members telling us they are concerned about coping with the cost of living and affording necessities such as food, energy, and housing. The Office for Students expects that in 2025-26, 72% of universities could be spending more money than they have coming in.

More information

Keep up-to-date with information on the lobby and how to get involved here.